Don't Just Settle for Birdseed on your Wedding Day

Guest Author - Shelley Shearer

What better day to try something different than on your wedding day? It’s the perfect day to make uniquely you and to celebrate your new life.

One small change that you can customize is the ‘rice throwing’ portion for want of a better term. Granted not many people really throws rice anymore, but the sentiment of wishing the happy couple good luck is still there. So lets look at all the options available:

Rice – It’s the most traditional choice. Before anyone starts getting upset that throwing rice will injure birds or wildlife, check out this article to see that it’s just a myth! It’s the venues that are against having the rice thrown due to cleanup and liability issues from someone slipping and falling. The birds are safe, but the guests could be injured. If that’s not an issue at your location and the tradition of rice feels best to you than go for it!

Birdseed – Always nice to feed a few birds on your wedding day, but trying to get all that birdseed out of your hair is a nightmare.

Bubbles – Fun and whimsical. They can be purchased in small favor sized bottles and even customized with the wedding information. Check out this website for some fun favors shaped as a wedding cake or bride and groom. My Wedding Favors

Butterflies – Beautiful thought to send butterflies free to fly around you, but you have to make sure the boxes you give out contain live butterflies and that you have enough to even be seen. If you just set a few of them loose you won’t even notice them. Also many people ask that you not do this as these are immature butterflies still learning how to fly and they will probably be trampled instead of flying free. Not exactly the feel you want for that special day!

Bells or other noisemakers – Perfect for venues which don’t allow anything to be thrown, but be sure to let the little ones know they’re just to ring and not to throw!

Confetti – Can be bought in a variety of colors and glittering effects. However, it’s notoriously difficult to clean up even with vacuuming. For this reason most locations probably won’t allow it. On the plus side it can come in a variety of shapes and be great for a themed wedding.

Leaves – Perfect for a fall wedding.

Sparklers – Fantastic effect for a night wedding. Get the larger ones so that the sparkle will last longer.

Rose petals – Very romantic and beautiful to see a shower of petals. They are easier to clean up then confetti and without the hassle of birdseed getting in your hair.

I hope this will give you some idea of the pros and cons of different items to use. The most important things to remember are to be sure to make it something both meaningful to you and appropriate for the venue.

- This is just part of a series of wedding articles which will encompass all areas from proposal to honeymoon and how to put a bit of adventure living into this important event. Please check back often for more installments! -